Despite the current economy, Sembler Company remains optimistic about the company's plans for Dawson County. "We're hoping to get started early next year," said Sembler spokesman Nick Gold, Monday, affirming the company's intentions of bringing a new large-scale retail development to Dawson County. Sembler Company is responsible for several small and large-scale retail properties throughout the southeast and has plans to bring a new shopping facility, 1 million square feet in size, to 103.5 acres located between Whitmire and Dawson Forest roads. "They're doing quite a bit to make the development an attractive shopping destination," said Development Authority of Dawson County Executive Director Charlie Auvermann, who Sembler developers consulted while seeking approval of their plan from county commissioners last September. Gold said Sembler has yet to release the names of specific retailers who are likely to sign on to the development, however the corporation is currently finishing a similar development in McDonough, Ga., which includes well-known retailers such as Dick's Sporting Goods, Best Buy and several smaller retail shops, restaurants and banks. "As we get closer to breaking ground, we will make public the stores that Dawson County shoppers can expect to see," said Gold, who added that Sembler's goal is to create a high-quality retail destination for shoppers in and visiting the county. Sembler has already entered a pre-purchase deal with the county's water provider Etowah Water and Sewer Authority for the sewer capacity that the development will require. "They have been working on refining their plans for the development and we have already begun moving forward with preparations to support," said Etowah Water and Sewer Authority General Manager Brook Anderson. Auvermann said Sembler's development would be a great asset and source of jobs and tax dollars for the county, further helping to shift the majority of the tax burden from residential to commercial. To learn more about the Sembler Company, visit them on the Web at www.sembler.com. For more information on Sembler's planned retail development in Dawson County, visit the Development Authority of Dawson County on the Web at www.developdawson.org or call (706) 265-8761. E-mail Adam C. Stapleton at adam@dawsonnews.com.
Sembler intent on breaking ground in '09
